Bachmann: Perry 'naïve' on Pakistan

Michele Bachmann criticized Rick Perry’s support for cutting foreign aid to Pakistan as “highly naïve” in Tuesday night’s national security debate, warning that if the government in Islamabad collapsed, “Al Qaeda could get ahold of [nuclear] weapons.”

“I think we have to recognize what’s happening on the ground,” Bachmann said.

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Her comments followed comments by Perry standing foursquare behind his position – articulated during an earlier debate on foreign policy – that the United States should flatly stop writing checks to the Pakistani government.

“Do not expect a dime of our citizens’ money to be coming into your country. That is how we change foreign policy,” Perry said. “To write a check to countries that are clearly not representing American interests is nonsensical.”